PHOENIX, AZ - JULY 20: Caitlin Clark #22 of Team WNBA and Sue Bird embrace after the game against the USA Basketball Women's National Team during the 2024 WNBA All Star Game on July 20, 2024 at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2024 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images)

 

Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

WNBA legend Sue Bird has a straightforward formula when it comes to picking the Rookie of the Year.

Bird said she leans more on the “eye test” over individual stats or team record, and that’s leading her to pick the Indiana Fever’s Caitlin Clark over the Chicago Sky’s Angel Reese this year.

Reese arguably built up an early lead on Clark in the ROY race after recording a WNBA record 15 straight double-doubles. A 6-9 start was also a little better than many were expecting from the Sky, and Reese had a big role in that.

Now, Clark has closed the gap and potentially jumped ahead thanks to her and the Fever finding their footing. In her last 10 games before the midseason break, Clark averaged 18.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 11.4 assists, and that stretch includes dishing out 19 assists in a loss to the Dallas Wings.

The Fever have jumped ahead of the Sky by one game in the standings as well to give a further boost to Clark’s candidacy.

Individual awards are always subjective, and that’s particularly true with Rookie of the Year because there can be so many different ways by which to judge the contenders. One downside to Bird’s metric, though, is that any “eye test” is bound to favor a dynamic high-volume scorer and playmaker over a power forward who excels in doing the dirty work inside.

But there are certainly other factors that point to Clark as the slight favorite right now.